The Bridgeport family of a 12-year-old boy who was fatally shot in 2018 is pushing for stricter gun laws in Connecticut.

The family of Clinton Howell says the pain of his death is still fresh two years later.

They say they want to keep his murder front-and-center in the fight for stricter gun laws so something good can come from their grief.

"We definitely have a hard time coping with it, but you know we try the best that we can to keep his memories with us," says Howell's brother, Gamel Dawkins.

State and local leaders joined friends and family at a vigil in front of Howell's home on Willow Street.

It was there, one week before Christmas two years ago, that Howell was fatally shot. The shooting became the city's 18th homicide of 2018.

Friday is what would have been Howell's 15th birthday. State Sen. Denis Bradley says, "We celebrate his birthday today, but we also mourn the loss of such a wonderful spirit."

Sen. Richard Blumenthal says he plans to use Clinton's story in pushing for tougher gun laws.

"I am going to be telling Clinton Howell's story to my colleagues in Congress but also to President Biden — when I have the opportunity — because that story, heartbreaking as it is, needs to be told and heard by everyone," Blumenthal says.

Two suspects were arrested in connection with the murder.